Tag: friendship

REVIEW: Kind of Sort of Fine by Spencer Hall

REVIEW: Kind of Sort of Fine by Spencer Hall

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

After a monumental moment at school at the end of her junior year, Hayley is pushed into “pulling back at school.” This includes dropping tennis and putting a low key elective into her senior year schedule – TV production. At first it feels like a punishment – a limitation. But after enough comments about her “break down,” Hayley decides she is going to use her determination and ambition to make the best of this hand she has been dealt.

Lewis is the senior producer in the school TV studio this year. He’s partnered with Hayley and can’t help being concerned about the quality of her work considering what happened last year.

As Hayley and Lewis work together and get to know one another as more than “the girl who had the breakdown” and “the fat, funny kid in TV production,” they realize there’s more to each of them – and more to their peers – than people see at first glance. And they decide to turn that idea into a set of mini-documentaries to share with their school.

Review

I enjoyed this exploration of senior year for these two characters. Hayley’s journey to reclaim her life and identity after her “breakdown” does a great job of showing progress without quick, trite resolutions. And I enjoyed Lewis and the other teens in the story.

I would have liked a stronger problem-resolution thread, but that’s a matter of personal preference. I like my stories to have more drive to them than this did. This is more focused on this period of time – senior year – for these characters, and on the journey rather than the destination. The wrap up to the story is good. I enjoyed this one. (Language, sexual references)

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: That Thing About Bollywood by Supriya Kelkar

REVIEW: That Thing About Bollywood by Supriya Kelkar

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Sonali is stressed as the new semester starts at school. She is in a drama class she’s not sure about, her best friend seems enamored with a new friend, and the tension between her parents at home seems to be rising. If she lived in the Bollywood films she loves, everyone would sing their feelings – from her best friend Zara’s excitement about all things drama to her brother’s frequent tears and her parent’s anger. But Sonali swore off feelings – and sharing them – years ago.

As a younger kid, Sonali had made a project all about her parent’s arguments and how it made her feel. But rather than changing anything at home, she was laughed at and yelled at. She learned quickly to keep everything she thought and felt to herself.

But when her parents announce their separation, everything changes for Sonali. First, she wakes up in a bedroom that is a cross between her regular room and what you might find in a Bollywood film. Then she has a soundtrack wherever she goes. And everyone says this is perfectly normal. Before she knows it, Sonali is breaking into song and dance routines while she watches her whole world shift into something out of her favorite movies. And she’s not sure how she’s going to get back to her own reality.

Review

This is a clever kids story along the lines of a Groundhog Day or Freaky Friday adaptation where the main character is in an alternate world and has to dig deep to unravel the mysteries that are keeping them from returning to their normal world. I love that sort of story, and this is a great twist on that idea. While I am not well-versed in Bollywood, the author does a great job of describing Sonali’s alternate world for readers with less context.

As an adult, it was easy to see the solution to Sonali’s problem. I’m curious to see if the intended audience catches on as quickly or if they have to walk the journey with Sonali. Either way, there’s a ton of rich emotional storytelling here that would make this great for a read-aloud or a discussion group. This is a beautiful way to engage kids in the concepts of emotional expression and health.

Kids who love Bollywood as well as those who enjoy musical theater and drama will find a lot to love here. But any kid who has struggled with emotional regulation and expression, family conflict, divorce, or grief/loss may also see themselves reflected in this story. Be sure to check this one out!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might-re-read.

REVIEW: Rule of Threes by Marcy Campbell

REVIEW: Rule of Threes by Marcy Campbell

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley  and Chronicle books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Maggie’s trying to get adjusted to being in middle school – new teachers, new building, new kids. And she’s noticing her friends are changing. Maggie, Olive, and Rachel have a small design business – Best Foot Forward – but Rachel’s been acting strangely and seems more interested in boys and a new friend.

Smack in the middle of that, Maggie discovers her dad had an affair before she was born. He has a son from this other relationship. And when Tony’s mom has to go into rehab, Tony ends up on Maggie’s doorstep, rocking the entire household.

Maggie is a designer. She understands the rules of design and she follows them. But it starts to feel like nothing in her world is following the rules any more.

Review

What a fascinating story! It’s not often you’ll find a middle grade novel dealing with the fallout of an extramarital affair. But this is handled really well, and the focus stays on Maggie and Tony, two great characters. I loved watching Maggie’s compassion and empathy for Tony grow over time.

The design pieces were a fun way to develop Maggie as a character and as a metaphor for the changes she is dealing with in her life. It was a great thread all the way through the story from the way Maggie approaches the world to her relationship with her grandmother struggling with Alzheimer’s to the decorating contest at school.

Maggie’s family is walking through a lot of big things. And I loved how committed they were to each other through all of it. Don’t miss this great family story for readers 10 and older! (Drug use/abuse/overdose/rehab, marital infidelity)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: Taking Up Space by Alyson Gerber

BONUS REVIEW: Taking Up Space by Alyson Gerber

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Edelweiss and Scholastic in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

In middle school, Sarah is starting to notice how her body is changing as she gets older. Nothing feels “normal” or “right.” And she feels like it is impacting how she plays basketball. And basketball means everything to Sarah.

So she starts thinking about what she can do to change things. Maybe like eating less and following the “rules” about food would help. Health class gives her some ideas. Her mom has a lot of food rules, too. In fact, there are times when Sarah’s mom forgets to go shopping, leaving nothing in the house for dinner or breakfast. Sarah’s dad travels for work, so he eats on the run a lot of the time. But Sarah’s a kid – she can’t just pick something up for herself.

And on top of all the other food drama – and basketball drama, and friend drama – Sarah starts cooking with her crush so they can try out for a kids cooking show. But so much of what they are cooking is against Sarah’s new rules.

When Sarah’s friends start to comment on how little she is eating, and it starts to negatively impact her on the court, everything comes to a tipping point.

Review

I really felt for Sarah in this! The author does an excellent job conveying Sarah’s thinking about food (and other topics) and showing how that impacts what Sarah thinks about herself. There’s a lot of conflicting information – and misinterpreted information. And then there’s the role Sarah’s parents play in the bigger picture of Sarah’s eating and food-related issues. I enjoyed the hopeful, supportive, yet direct way Sarah’s situation is handled.

Food and disordered eating is a huge piece of the story. And it could be overwhelming or triggering for some readers (TW). But that’s not the only thread in the story. There are some great basketball moments and some meaty friendship pieces to the book as well. The author does a great job here, as well, showing Sarah taking what she is learning in counseling and applying it to other areas of her life. I loved the positive messages in the book about therapy, too.

Obviously there’s a lot here for kids to sink their teeth into – the friendship issues, the cooking and cooking show pieces, the basketball, and the food/eating parts. This would be an excellent choice for a read-aloud or for book groups. I highly recommend this one! Some other great middle grade books that deal with disordered eating include Goodbye, Mr. Terupt, Everything I Know About You (♥♥♥♥½), and Still a Work in Progress (♥♥♥♥♥). (TW: Disordered eating/thinking about food)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: Alice Fleck's Recipes for Disaster by Rachelle Delaney

REVIEW: Alice Fleck’s Recipes for Disaster by Rachelle Delaney

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

To celebrate her last day of elementary school, Alice’s father gives her a phone. Sure, it’s a hand-me-down from his girlfriend, Hana, but a phone is a phone when you are about to start middle school.

Hana also has a gift for Alice. She entered Alice and her dad into a contest to win a spot on Culinary Chronicles, a TV cooking show. And they won.

Alice has learned the hard way that kids her age aren’t interested in the history of food and cooking, Victorian recipes, and the other things Alice and her dad love. But she doesn’t feel like she can say no to her dad or to Hana. Thankfully, Culinary Chronicles is on an obscure network, so no one will see her on TV. And it’s the nicest of the reality cooking shows with a lot of comradery on set. That’s the saving grace of this whole thing.

But when Alice and her dad get to the set, they discover Culinary Chronicles has been bought out by the most popular reality TV station. And they’ve changed the sweet format to something more cut throat. The judge is awful, and none of the contestants are having any fun. And it starts to look like someone is deliberately sabotaging the show. Alice and some new friends are determined to figure out what is really going on.

Review

This was fun. I wish the mystery elements and Alice’s team up with the other sleuths had started sooner and carried through the book. That was my favorite part of the story, but it cropped up late making the story feel a little uneven for me. The story begins with a focus on Alice and the drama of her dad having a girlfriend as well as her mixed feelings about her passions since it made finding friends at school so difficult. And those threads run from start to finish, but the mystery takes over for the last third or so.

I enjoyed all the ways Alice grows during the book – from her relationship with her dad and Hana to her shame over loving the things she loves. There’s a nice piece here about finding your people and embracing who you are rather than being ashamed of it. I loved that piece of the story.

Kids who love cooking shows and books about cooking (A Place at the Table, The Donut Fix and The Donut King, The World’s Greatest Chocolate-Covered Pork Chops, Summer of a Thousand Pies, From the Desk of Zoe Washington, etc.) should definitely pick this one up! The publisher’s information says this is for readers 10 and up.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Lucky Girl by Jamie Pacton

REVIEW: Lucky Girl by Jamie Pacton

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Page Street Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Fortuna Jane Belleweather has a secret. Well, actually, she has 58 million secrets. Jane bought the sole winning lottery ticket for a prize of $58 million.

Jane’s first problem is that she’s 17 for 2 more weeks. So she can’t turn the ticket in by herself yet. And it’s stressful to leave it hidden in random places in her house.

Second, Jane’s mom is a hoarder. It seemed to start when Jane’s dad died, and it’s progressively getting worse. She should never have access to this much money.

Third, Jane lives in a small rural community in Wisconsin. Everyone knows everyone else’s business. And they all know someone bought the ticket. So everyone is obsessing over it.

The more Jane learns about her situation and about the pitfalls of winning the lottery, the more panicked she feels about it. It might be better to tear up the ticket and let the town always wonder who the winner was.

Review

Woah, this was more stressful than I expected! Every time Jane left the winning ticket somewhere, I felt the panic of what might happen. Ugh.  Jane is really in a pickle (and it only gets worse). I found it fascinating that the community would be so hateful and resentful over the unclaimed money. They seemed to feel entitled to know who won – or entitled to criticize anyone who would keep it a secret.

I was relieved by the author’s solution in the end. It was the best outcome I could have imagined – better that the solution I exclaimed out loud when things got progressively out of control.

I didn’t love any of the characters in this. I had a lot of sympathy for Jane and her mom, though. And I despised the ex. There’s a great epilogue to show the reader what happens next that was satisfying. If you like lottery stories you might also check out Windfall or Too Lucky to Live. (Language, LGBTQ+, references to sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Find/solid/good

REVIEW: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

REVIEW: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Poppy always dreamed of a life and career centered around travel. She works for a hugely popular travel magazine. She designs and executes dream vacations her readers long for. But lately it all feels empty. She’s gotten everything she thought she wanted. Now, she misses wanting something. She needs a new goal. She longs to feel happy again.

The last time Poppy felt happy was two years ago on her summer vacation with Alex Nilsen.

Alex was Poppy’s best friend. They met during orientation at college when they discovered they were from the same town. They got to know each other when they shared a ride home after freshman year. Then they became inseparable from that point on, even vacationing together every summer. Until two years ago when it fell apart.

But Poppy wants to be happy again. So she reaches out to Alex, and after some texts, they plan another summer trip to coincide with Alex’s brother’s wedding. But a lot has happened in the last two years. And they’ve never worked out what happened on that last trip. They might not be able to pick up where they left off like Poppy hopes. And if not, where does that leave her?

Review

This wasn’t a great match for me. It was fine. I liked Poppy and Alex well enough, but I didn’t love them. The big mystery of what happened two years ago was drawn out through most of the book. And the back and forth through time, back to college and their previous vacations, made the book feel really long, and not in a great way.

I was committed to seeing the story through, and I’m not sad I stuck with this. I liked the college stories for Poppy and Alex, and I got a kick out of the references to and scenes with their siblings. But otherwise this one was just “okay” for me. (Language, sex, LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Fine/solid

REVIEW: Thanks a Lot, Universe by Chad Lucas

REVIEW: Thanks a Lot, Universe by Chad Lucas

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Amulet Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

On the morning of Brian’s 13th birthday, his dad disappears leaving only a cryptic note, and his mom overdoses and is rushed to the hospital. Before the day is over, Brian and his little brother are in foster care. The pressure starts mounting, Brian’s anxiety starts growing, and he starts pushing back at everyone around him. He strikes back at his bully. He runs away from his foster home.

Ezra is one of the only guys at school who treats Brian like a friend. But as Brian starts to spiral, Ezra realizes that he’s never stood up for Brian to his other friends. Lately it seems like Brian might need a buddy to lean on, and Ezra is the one person he might trust enough to help him. The complication is that Ezra has a crush on Brian. And he’s not quite sure what to do with those feelings.

Review

I adored this! Brian and Ezra will quickly become kids you want to hang out with – and hug. There are so many exceptional character pieces in this – Brian’s evolution through the story, Ezra’s fierce desire to help Brian, Gabe – my favorite character – and Brittany, Brian’s family dynamics… It’s all perfection. I quickly became attached to these characters. And I would have happily kept reading another book’s worth of pages with them.

There’s a lot of heavy content in this one – the overdose/suicide attempt, Brian’s panic attacks and social anxiety, some of Brian’s choices in the story, Ezra working through his understanding of his sexuality and the impact of it on his friendships, grief and loss – which is why this is an older middle grade story for readers 10 and up. All of the content is handled beautifully. But it’s still a lot, especially when you remember that Brian and Ezra are only 13. (The story reminds me of A List of Cages in some of the content, although more “mild” in some ways for the younger audience.)

This would be a great book for discussion with kids – both to help them process some of the more serious pieces of the story, but also because it’s such a rich and meaty story with great characters and an engaging plot. I think kids will love Brian and Ezra (and Gabe!). And the story here will leave readers with lots to think about. (LGBTQ+, TW: Panic attacks/anxiety, suicide attempt, bullying)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado

REVIEW: Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Sometimes, Charlie wishes she was more like her best friend, Amelia. She’s stylish, athletic, and popular. Even Charlie’s mom acts like she’d rather have Amelia as her daughter. And Charlie’s crush, Cal, can’t get enough of Amelia, even though she shuts him down, hard, all the time.

Not only does Charlie’s mom seem to like Amelia better, but she’s always on Charlie about her weight.  She gave her an activity tracker so she can track Charlie’s steps. She sells meal replacement shakes online and pushes Charlie about using them. When Charlie’s dad died and her mom focused her grief on losing weight, the dynamic between them shifted dramatically. Charlie chose self-acceptance instead of obsessing about weight, or at least she is trying to.

As Charlie negotiates her junior year, her worsening relationship with her mom, and her first boyfriend, things come to a head that leaves her on shaky ground.

Review

I adored this! It’s absolutely perfect – painful at times, sure, but so enjoyable overall. I loved Charlie! She, Amelia, and Brian made such a fantastic core group of characters. I would have loved a few more chapters with the characters at the end.

The writing and the story and the characters perfectly capture first love – and its sometimes all-consuming nature. The dynamic between Charlie and her mom also felt very real. I liked that, while progress was made, there were no instant solutions or easy answers to their issues (although, honest communication helped).

This is Charlie’s story of self-kindness, self-acceptance, and self-celebration. It’s a story *every* reader could enjoy and learn from. There were several moments where I wanted to mark the page or underline the writing – perfect little nuggets  I wanted to savor. This would make an excellent choice for a book group or discussion group. Don’t miss this one! (Language, LGBTQ+, TW: fat shaming)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Capturing the Earl by A. S. Fenichel

REVIEW: Capturing the Earl by A. S. Fenichel

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Lyrical Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

A woman of no title or money, Mercy Heath knows she is likely to wind up a spinster. And the one man who makes her pulse race, the Earl of Castlewick, would never pursue her. She’s nowhere near his level. And she keeps telling herself that, even when he asks her to dance out of the blue, or when he pays her any bit of attention.

Mercy’s best friend, Aurora, Lady Radcliff, is widowed and has no intention of remarrying. Ever. But the Earl of Castlewick has decided to court her. She owns a parcel of land that used to belong to his family. As her husband, the land would return to his family’s holdings. That has been the driving focus of Wesley’s adult life – buying back the land his grandfather lost yeas ago.

Wesley is committed to this plan for the sake of his family and the promise he made to his father before he died. And Aurora is lovely and bright and would make a good wife. But he can’t stop thinking of Mercy and wishing she was the woman he was pursing instead.

Review

This was lovely! It’s book 3 in the Wallflowers of West Lane series. I have the first two books on my TBR, but I haven’t gotten to them yet. After enjoying this so much, I’ll be bumping them up the list. I adored all four of the Wallflowers, and I can’t wait to read the first two stories. (I had no issues jumping into this series with book 3.)

The first thing I loved about this was the quartet of friends. I didn’t have to have read the previous books – The Earl Not Taken and Misleading a Duke – in order to enjoy and understand their bond. They are like sisters in all the best ways – fiercely loyal and protective of anyone in their circle. These ladies are amazing.

I especially liked Mercy as the odd woman out in this book. No title, no money, but fully secure in who she is and in the love of her friends. It was obvious from the start that Wesley was captivated by her. But he stubbornly clung to his plan to marry Aurora, despite his feelings and her clear disinterest. I felt like a stronger case could have been made for why this land mattered to Wesley so much. (I also would have liked much stronger repercussions for something that happens later in the story.) But I liked everything else so much that I didn’t let those pieces distract me from the story.

Historical romance fans who enjoy stories with characters thwarted in their pursuit of love and with excellent, strong women, should be sure to check this book out – as well as the rest of the series. (Sex, TW: sexual assault)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.